Bush Lied, They Died T-Shirt Banned in Three States

PHOENIX — State lawmakers voted Monday to enact new laws designed to stop the sale of anti-war T-shirts with the names of dead soldiers — a measure a veteran media lawyer says is “unconstitutional about three or four different ways.”

On a 28-0 margin, the Senate agreed to make it punishable by up to a year in jail to use the names of deceased soldiers to help sell goods. The measure, SB 1014, also would let families go to court to stop the sales and collect damages.
Dan Frazier, a Flagstaff businessman who is selling the T-shirts that have caused all the fuss, told Capitol Media Services he doesn’t intend to halt the sale of the $20 shirts even if Gov. Janet Napolitano signs the measure. He said it’s an illegal infringement on his First Amendment rights.

Rep. Jonathan Paton, R-Tucson, a backer of the measure, doesn’t see it that way. He said because Frazier is selling his shirts for a profit means it is not constitutionally protected political speech.

But attorney Dan Barr said the question of whether someone makes money is legally irrelevant.
“The fact that these people died in Iraq is nothing more than a fact,” Barr said. And he said listing their names on a T-shirt — whether sold or given away — doesn’t change that.

The shirts at issue feature the words “Bush Lied/They Died” superimposed over the names of more than 3,000 soldiers who have died since the U.S. invaded Iraq. Frazier has since come up with some variants, including one that says on one side “Support our Remaining Troops,” with “Bring the Rest Home Alive” on the other.

They’ve been banned in Oklahoma and Louisiana and there is federal legislation pending in Congress to ban sales of the t-shirt in the rest of the country.

So lawmakers can get together to stop a sale of a t-shirt but are impotent when it comes to stopping the actual war? Here’s where you can buy the t-shirt.

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I am pissed ! I just don’t get the reasons. T-shirts in this country are a huge way for people to express themselves. I’m going to order one !

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DaveS

Thus Idiots in Power again show their stupidity. If they had simply given these shirts a self-righteous “Harrumph” instead of trying to ban them, the creator of these shirts would have not made much money from it, and the speech would have been drowned in the cacophony of free speech in America. The Idiots in Power did the Tshirt maker a great favor, and that person or company will make a killing from this. $22 is WAY above the going rate for a printed t-shirt, and many people will gladly pay it, only because the government is trying to ban it.

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McGee

It’s like when a school bans a certain book from a teacher’s curriculum because of “objectionable content.” Sales skyrocket.

I won’t order one of these shirts, because I’d rather not end up on an NSA watch list (though the fact that I visit this site as frequently as I do probably already has me on one).

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Brendan

Thank God I live in Canada.

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Moon

But, but… NEWSPAPERS make money! So they shouldn’t be allowed to print those names, either?? This is just stupid. Who elected these clowns and how soon can they be removed?

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Moon

We need a Bastille Day of our own on these wing nuts.

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carolyn

God I’m SO glad I left Oklahoma.

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Jill

Way to go AZ! (the heat gets to people’s brains…)

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jenni

Someone needs to notify abc news that they can no longer run the names of dead soldiers on their “in memorium” segment. I can only assume they are, like all shows, paid by advertisers, and thus, technically making money by listing the names of dead soldiers.

Thank fucking god for the ban…..Oh wow ONE WHOLE DOLLAR GOES TO THE FAMILIES OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED….ONE WHOLE FUCKIGN DOLLAR!!! Its sad that these people are making money off the lives of others and the worst part is they are doing it for a “cause” to get the remaining troops home…..if you were so worried then why isnt the whole amount minus cost of the shirt going to the families? That shirt is fucking ridiculous and Im glad to see that some Americans still have a little patriotism in them by stopping the exploitation of those who have died for our country.

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Tom

Seems to me that AZ is taking away a constitutional right to express ones opinion. The names were made public, and the opinion is valid. So, lets let Republicans further trash the constitution by outlawing free speach.
A vote for any republican is a wasted vote.

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z-money

The bill that bans the names of fallen soldiers appearing on wearable items or protest banners is a crock! 911 was an inside job! Jet fuel doesn’t cut steel beams at 45 degree angles and why is building 7 not mentioned in the official 911 report? Terrorists with box cutters? Another crock! We know the truth! All you imbalanced darkworkers will pay the price with your souls and live in the hungry ghost realm for your actions in this life. Cremation of care? hahhahahaha! I STILL LOVE YOU! Don’t you hate that? Don’t you wish I was angry? I bet you do!

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z-money

oh yeah…and i ordered 42 of those shirts! WOOHA!

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Martin

It seems to me that the brutal truth of these T-shirts is MUCH more about defending freedom in America than the war in Iraq ever was.